Syrian President embarked to the UAE, making it a first visit by a Syrian President to an Arab nation in 11 years. Meanwhile, the US says it is disappointed by Assad's visit.

Syrian President visits the UAE, making it a first visit to an Arab nation in 11 years

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad made his first trip to an Arab country since the beginning of the civil war 11 years ago when he arrived in United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Friday. According to a number of experts, this marks a potential boost in Syria’s relations with its Arab neighbouring countries.<o:p></o:p>

In a statement posted on its social media pages, the office of the Syrian president said that he met Sheikh Mohamed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, vice-president and prime minister of the UAE and the ruler of Dubai to discuss expanding bilateral relations between the two countries.

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Syria was expelled from the 22-member Arab League around 11 years ago and it led to a boycott from the Arab neighbours. Since then, the civil war has claimed a huge number of lives and it has also displaced almost half of Syria’s population who have fled to various different countries.<o:p></o:p>

However, against the backdrop of the war between Russia and Ukraine, the visit is a clear indication that the Arab countries are ready to re-engage with Syria. Assad, earlier, extended his complete support to Russian president Vladimir Putin regarding his invasion of Ukrainian cities.<o:p></o:p>

The UAE reopened its official embassy in Syria back in 2018 and that was considered as a positive sign from the Arab nation. In 2021, UAE foreign minister flew to Damascus for a private meeting with Assad and it was the first time that the country’s top diplomat has visited Syria since 2011.

<o:p>Also read |&nbsp;</o:p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ukraine-russia-conflict-time-for-meaningful-talks-says-president-volodymyr-zelenskiy-463642">Time for meaningful talks, says President Zelensky</a>

The official report further stated that Sheikh Mohammed expressed his hope “this visit would be the beginning of peace and stability for Syria and the entire region”.

It also said that Assad briefed Sheikh Mohammed on the latest developments in Syria and the two leaders discussed mutual interests in the Arab world. Assad was reported to have left the UAE later on Friday from Abu Dhabi.<o:p></o:p>

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad made his first trip to an Arab country since the beginning of the civil war 11 years ago when he arrived in United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Friday.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad made his first trip to an Arab country since the beginning of the civil war 11 years ago when he arrived in United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Friday. According to a number of experts, this marks a potential boost in Syria’s relations with its Arab neighbouring countries. In a statement posted on its social media pages, the office of the Syrian president said that he met Sheikh Mohamed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, vice-president and prime minister of the UAE and the ruler of Dubai to discuss expanding bilateral relations between the two countries. Also read | China reports first COVID-19 deaths in more than a year Syria was expelled from the 22-member Arab League around 11 years ago and it led to a boycott from the Arab neighbours. Since then, the civil war has claimed a huge number of lives and it has also displaced almost half of Syria’s population who have fled to various different countries. However, against the backdrop of the war between Russia and Ukraine, the visit is a clear indication that the Arab countries are ready to re-engage with Syria. Assad, earlier, extended his complete support to Russian president Vladimir Putin regarding his invasion of Ukrainian cities. The UAE reopened its official embassy in Syria back in 2018 and that was considered as a positive sign from the Arab nation. In 2021, UAE foreign minister flew to Damascus for a private meeting with Assad and it was the first time that the country’s top diplomat has visited Syria since 2011. Also read | Time for meaningful talks, says President Zelensky The official report further stated that Sheikh Mohammed expressed his hope “this visit would be the beginning of peace and stability for Syria and the entire region”. It also said that Assad briefed Sheikh Mohammed on the latest developments in Syria and the two leaders discussed mutual interests in the Arab world. Assad was reported to have left the UAE later on Friday from Abu Dhabi.

Syria's Bashar al-Assad visits UAE in first trip to Arab state since 2011

On Thursday, the Islamic State organisation revealed for the first time that its leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, was killed in a US strike in northern Syria last month and designated his successor.

It was the extremist group's first formal statement on its commander, Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurayshi, since American officials reported he blew himself up along with members of his family during a raid on his hideout in the northern Syrian town of Atmeh, near the Turkish border, on February 3.&nbsp;

IS spokesman Abu Omar al-Muhajer confirmed the leader's death, as well as that of the group's former spokesman, Abu Hamza al-Qurayshi, in an audio recording broadcast Thursday.

IS has picked a successor to the former leader, according to Al-Muhajer, who identified him as Abu al-Hassan al-Hashimi al-Qurayshi and said the late IS head chose him to be the future caliph.

There was no immediate information about the new commander, and it was unclear whether he, like his two predecessors, was an Iraqi. Both were murdered in rebel-held areas of Syria.&nbsp; 
 
Watch | Gravitas: The Islamic State has China on its hit list

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-the-islamic-state-has-china-on-its-hit-list-423131/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The US strike last month was the second time in three years that the US has killed a prominent IS leader.

There is no evidence that any of the al-Qurayshis are related.

Al-Qurayshi is not their genuine name, but it is derived from Quraish, the tribe of Islam's Prophet Muhammad.

IS claims to have leaders from this tribe, and "al-Qurayshi" is part of an IS leader's surname.

"He has embraced the leadership," al-Muhajer stated of the new IS commander, who remained anonymous.&nbsp;

In the US raid, about 50 U.S. special operations forces landed in helicopters and attacked a house in a rebel-held corner of Syria, clashing for two hours with gunmen. In all, 13 people were killed, including six children and four women. Residents described continuous gunfire and explosions that jolted Atmeh near the Turkish border, an area dotted with camps for internally displaced from Syria’s civil war.

At the height of its power, after declaring an Islamic caliphate in 2014, IS controlled a third of both Syria and Iraq and ruled over 8 million people.

Since their defeat in 2019, the militants have struggled to mount a resurgence, staging deadly attacks in both Syria and Iraq. In January, IS launched a complex assault on a prison in northeast Syria holding at least 3,000 IS detainees and setting off 10 days of clashes with U.S.-backed Syrian Kurdish-led fighters. The battles killed more than 120 Syrian Kurdish fighters and prison workers, along with 374 militants.

(With inputs from agencies)

On Thursday, the Islamic State organisation revealed for the first time that its leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, was killed in a US strike in northern Syria last month and designated his successor.

On Thursday, the Islamic State organisation revealed for the first time that its leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, was killed in a US strike in northern Syria last month and designated his successor. It was the extremist group's first formal statement on its commander, Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurayshi, since American officials reported he blew himself up along with members of his family during a raid on his hideout in the northern Syrian town of Atmeh, near the Turkish border, on February 3. IS spokesman Abu Omar al-Muhajer confirmed the leader's death, as well as that of the group's former spokesman, Abu Hamza al-Qurayshi, in an audio recording broadcast Thursday. IS has picked a successor to the former leader, according to Al-Muhajer, who identified him as Abu al-Hassan al-Hashimi al-Qurayshi and said the late IS head chose him to be the future caliph. There was no immediate information about the new commander, and it was unclear whether he, like his two predecessors, was an Iraqi. Both were murdered in rebel-held areas of Syria. Watch | Gravitas: The Islamic State has China on its hit list The US strike last month was the second time in three years that the US has killed a prominent IS leader. There is no evidence that any of the al-Qurayshis are related. Al-Qurayshi is not their genuine name, but it is derived from Quraish, the tribe of Islam's Prophet Muhammad. IS claims to have leaders from this tribe, and "al-Qurayshi" is part of an IS leader's surname. "He has embraced the leadership," al-Muhajer stated of the new IS commander, who remained anonymous. In the US raid, about 50 U.S. special operations forces landed in helicopters and attacked a house in a rebel-held corner of Syria, clashing for two hours with gunmen. In all, 13 people were killed, including six children and four women. Residents described continuous gunfire and explosions that jolted Atmeh near the Turkish border, an area dotted with camps for internally displaced from Syria’s civil war. At the height of its power, after declaring an Islamic caliphate in 2014, IS controlled a third of both Syria and Iraq and ruled over 8 million people. Since their defeat in 2019, the militants have struggled to mount a resurgence, staging deadly attacks in both Syria and Iraq. In January, IS launched a complex assault on a prison in northeast Syria holding at least 3,000 IS detainees and setting off 10 days of clashes with U.S.-backed Syrian Kurdish-led fighters. The battles killed more than 120 Syrian Kurdish fighters and prison workers, along with 374 militants. (With inputs from agencies)

Islamic State confirms its leader was killed in Syria, names new chief

Amidst Russia-Ukraine conflict, Syrians came in support of Ukrainian citizens. Few of the Syrian rebels have also shared their stories of struggle.

Syrians empathise with Ukraine: Rebels share their stories of struggle amid Russia-Ukraine war

A court in&nbsp;Sweden&nbsp;on Friday sentenced a&nbsp;mother&nbsp;to six years in jail for allowing her&nbsp;son&nbsp;to&nbsp;fight&nbsp;for the Islamic State (IS) group as a child soldier in Syria.

The 49-year-old was convicted of &nbsp;aggravated of war crimes, violations of international law and for "not stopping her&nbsp;son, then aged 12 to 15, from being recruited and used as a child soldier for IS in the armed conflict in Syria," the Stockholm district court said in a statement.

The woman and her husband had been part of a "cult-like" Islamist environment and in April 2013 she brought her&nbsp;son&nbsp;to join his father and an older&nbsp;son&nbsp;in Syria.

Also read |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/52-year-old-drunk-airline-pilot-removed-from-cockpit-of-flight-in-us-458917">&nbsp;52-year-old drunk airline pilot removed from cockpit of flight in US</a>

The court found that she must have understood that her&nbsp;son&nbsp;was used as a child soldier.

"She has not taken adequate steps to stop this, neither has she wanted to stop it, but his role as a child soldier had been in accordance with her convictions," the court said.

When she was charged in January, the prosecution authority said it was "the first time charges are being brought in&nbsp;Sweden&nbsp;for the war crime of using a child soldier".

It also said that from August 2013 and to May of 2016 the boy allegedly&nbsp;took&nbsp;part "in hostilities performed by armed groups, including the terrorist organisation IS".

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The authority added that he died in 2017, without providing the cause of death.

Around 300 Swedes or Swedish residents, a quarter of whom are women, joined IS in Syria and Iraq, mostly in 2013 and 2014, according to the Sapo intelligence service.

Sweden&nbsp;did not have existing legislation at the time to prosecute people for membership in a terrorist organisation, so prosecutors instead sought other crimes with which to charge returnees.

A court in Sweden on Friday sentenced a mother to six years in jail for allowing her son to fight for the Islamic State (IS) group as a child soldier in Syria. The 49-year-old was convicted of aggravated of war crimes, violations of international law and for "not stopping her son, then aged 12 to 15, from being recruited and used as a child soldier for IS in the armed conflict in Syria," the Stockholm district court said in a statement.

A court in Sweden on Friday sentenced a mother to six years in jail for allowing her son to fight for the Islamic State (IS) group as a child soldier in Syria. The 49-year-old was convicted of aggravated of war crimes, violations of international law and for "not stopping her son, then aged 12 to 15, from being recruited and used as a child soldier for IS in the armed conflict in Syria," the Stockholm district court said in a statement. The woman and her husband had been part of a "cult-like" Islamist environment and in April 2013 she brought her son to join his father and an older son in Syria. Also read | 52-year-old drunk airline pilot removed from cockpit of flight in US The court found that she must have understood that her son was used as a child soldier. "She has not taken adequate steps to stop this, neither has she wanted to stop it, but his role as a child soldier had been in accordance with her convictions," the court said. When she was charged in January, the prosecution authority said it was "the first time charges are being brought in Sweden for the war crime of using a child soldier". It also said that from August 2013 and to May of 2016 the boy allegedly took part "in hostilities performed by armed groups, including the terrorist organisation IS". Also read | Florida lawmakers vote to ban abortions after 15 weeks The authority added that he died in 2017, without providing the cause of death. Around 300 Swedes or Swedish residents, a quarter of whom are women, joined IS in Syria and Iraq, mostly in 2013 and 2014, according to the Sapo intelligence service. Sweden did not have existing legislation at the time to prosecute people for membership in a terrorist organisation, so prosecutors instead sought other crimes with which to charge returnees.

Sweden jails mother who took son to fight for IS

The Russian invasion of Ukraine has displaced some one million people with millions more at risk. The European Union nations have been swift in their response to the Ukrainians crossing over this reaction of the European countries is now pushing millions of West-Asian refugees who are still waiting for protection and asylum for over a decade.

Europe's contradictory approach to Ukrainian and Syrian refugees?

&nbsp;fire&nbsp;in a&nbsp;shopping&nbsp;centre in the&nbsp;Syrian&nbsp;capital Damascus&nbsp;killed&nbsp;at least 11 people early Tuesday, the interior ministry said, in one of the deadliest blazes of recent years.

Many of those&nbsp;killed&nbsp;were security guards or other staff on duty overnight in the six-storey building, civil defence director Ahmad Abbas said.

The cause of the blaze was not immediately clear.

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"Eleven&nbsp;people have died as a result of the&nbsp;fire&nbsp;in the La Mirada&nbsp;mall, and two people have been rescued," the interior ministry said.

The&nbsp;fire&nbsp;caused "extensive material damage", it added, ripping&nbsp;through&nbsp;stores that sold clothes, leather goods and cosmetics -- many of which were highly flammable.

"Investigations are underway to determine the cause of the blaze," the ministry statement said.

Fires in the&nbsp;Syrian&nbsp;capital are relatively frequent, some caused by electrical short-circuits, others by unsafe heating.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/morning-news-brief-israel-launches-strike-at-syria-pfizers-pandemic-profiteering-more-451598">Morning news brief: Israel launches strike at Syria, Pfizer's pandemic profiteering, &amp; more</a>

A 52-year-old witness, who asked to be identified only by his first name Hani, said the&nbsp;fire&nbsp;broke out at around 3:00 am (0100 GMT).

"The&nbsp;fire&nbsp;started on the top floor and started to spread quickly to other levels," he said.

Damascus police chief Hussein Jumaa said the cause of the blaze was likely "internal."

"The&nbsp;fire&nbsp;spread so fast that the people in the building couldn't save themselves," Jumaa told state television.&nbsp;

My livelihood is gone

Twenty&nbsp;fire&nbsp;engines helped douse the blaze, civil defence chief Abbas said.

"It took around four hours for us to bring the&nbsp;fire&nbsp;under control," he said, adding that the victims died either of suffocation or of severe burns.

They were all guards working at the&nbsp;mall, or workers on duty," Abbas added.

Ten of the 11 corpses recovered from the building were charred beyond recognition, the state SANA news agency reported.

It said seven people were wounded, including those who suffered smoke inhalation.&nbsp;

An AFP correspondent saw&nbsp;fire&nbsp;trucks stationed outside the charred facade of the&nbsp;shopping&nbsp;mall, where dozens of businesses had been destroyed.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israel-launches-strikes-against-syria-after-missile-attack-451589">Israel launches strikes against Syria after missile attack</a>

"We have asked everyone to stay away from the area to facilitate civil defence operations," a&nbsp;fire&nbsp;department official told AFP on condition of anonymity, because he was not authorised to speak to the media.

Despite the security cordon, dozens flocked to the scene, including business owners eager to check on their shops.

One store owner collapsed when he saw the scale of the damage.

"My livelihood is gone... my money is gone," he wailed.

The&nbsp;fire&nbsp;comes a week after a blaze in a hospital in Syria's second city of Aleppo&nbsp;killed&nbsp;three people, sparked by an electrical short-circuit, according to SANA.

In September last year, a firefighter died and two civilians were injured in a blaze that destroyed a fabric warehouse in the Old City of Damascus.&nbsp;

fire in a shopping centre in the Syrian capital Damascus killed at least 11 people early Tuesday, the interior ministry said, in one of the deadliest blazes of recent years.

fire in a shopping centre in the Syrian capital Damascus killed at least 11 people early Tuesday, the interior ministry said, in one of the deadliest blazes of recent years. Many of those killed were security guards or other staff on duty overnight in the six-storey building, civil defence director Ahmad Abbas said. The cause of the blaze was not immediately clear. Also read | Five dead as man kills three children and himself in California church "Eleven people have died as a result of the fire in the La Mirada mall, and two people have been rescued," the interior ministry said. The fire caused "extensive material damage", it added, ripping through stores that sold clothes, leather goods and cosmetics -- many of which were highly flammable. "Investigations are underway to determine the cause of the blaze," the ministry statement said. Fires in the Syrian capital are relatively frequent, some caused by electrical short-circuits, others by unsafe heating. Also read | Morning news brief: Israel launches strike at Syria, Pfizer's pandemic profiteering, & more A 52-year-old witness, who asked to be identified only by his first name Hani, said the fire broke out at around 3:00 am (0100 GMT). "The fire started on the top floor and started to spread quickly to other levels," he said. Damascus police chief Hussein Jumaa said the cause of the blaze was likely "internal." "The fire spread so fast that the people in the building couldn't save themselves," Jumaa told state television. My livelihood is gone Twenty fire engines helped douse the blaze, civil defence chief Abbas said. "It took around four hours for us to bring the fire under control," he said, adding that the victims died either of suffocation or of severe burns. They were all guards working at the mall, or workers on duty," Abbas added. Ten of the 11 corpses recovered from the building were charred beyond recognition, the state SANA news agency reported. It said seven people were wounded, including those who suffered smoke inhalation. An AFP correspondent saw fire trucks stationed outside the charred facade of the shopping mall, where dozens of businesses had been destroyed. Also read | Israel launches strikes against Syria after missile attack "We have asked everyone to stay away from the area to facilitate civil defence operations," a fire department official told AFP on condition of anonymity, because he was not authorised to speak to the media. Despite the security cordon, dozens flocked to the scene, including business owners eager to check on their shops. One store owner collapsed when he saw the scale of the damage. "My livelihood is gone... my money is gone," he wailed. The fire comes a week after a blaze in a hospital in Syria's second city of Aleppo killed three people, sparked by an electrical short-circuit, according to SANA. In September last year, a firefighter died and two civilians were injured in a blaze that destroyed a fabric warehouse in the Old City of Damascus.

Eleven killed as fire rips through Syria shopping mall

Amid heightened tensions between the West in Moscow over Ukraine, Russian defense minister Sergei Shoigu visited Syria and held talks with President Bashar Assad. He also inspected Russian air base in the country which has served at Russia's main outpost in Syria.

Russia’s defense chief arrives in Syria to inspect Russian airbase

According to the US Air Forces Central Command, Russian/Syrian aircraft crossed a de-confliction line into coalition airspace east of the Euphrates River 6-8 times a day in late November. “The greatest concern is that we could shoot down these aircraft because of their actions are seen as a threat” to coalition forces, the source claimed recently together with CNN.

In turn, Assad’s allies announced that most of the <a href="https://en.insidesyriamc.com/2017/01/18/rebellion-in-the-sky-over-syria/" rel="nofollow">rapprochement</a> between Russian/Syrian and U.S.-led coalition&nbsp;aircraft in the vicinity of the Euphrates River valley in Syria was associated with the attempts of the U.S. aircraft to interfere with the destruction of ISIS terrorists.

It needs to be mentioned is that while the Syrian AF accompanied by the Russian side were eliminating ISIS stronghold in the suburbs of the city of al-Mayadin during the <a href="https://en.insidesyriamc.com/?s=Deir+Ezzor" rel="nofollow">Deir-Ezzor</a> campaign, U.S. F-22 aircraft was carrying out ‘flare ejection altitude’ (were releasing several decoy flares) and speed brake deployment maneuvering in airspace and simulating an air fight.

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It seems a fight in the skies of Deir Ezzor is here to stay and the Memorandum on Flight Safety in Syria won’t help to pacify U.S. naked ambitions and ruthless determination to dominate in the skies over Syria. In the meantime, the legal basis for ‘coalition’ presence in Syria can’t be demonstrated. According to the international law, there is no U.S.-led coalition’s airspace in Syria. Apparently, the <a href="https://en.insidesyriamc.com/?s=Pentagon" rel="nofollow">Pentagon</a> had considered that there would be no point in following the international law regarding Syria’s airspace because the U.S. would be unable to benefit by its jets.

CNN statements have already raised a storm of indignation of common Syrians. Many of them try to ask what are these “coalition forces” really doing in Syria and call them “USA invasion forces.” Some people draw parallels between the U.S. and Israeli AF planes, protesting against their missiles regularly infringing sovereign Syrian airspace. Syrians are concerned that there is no reason and excuse justifying this violation.

A number of residents, according to the opinion poll made by Inside Syria Media Center via social media, even joked ‘Russia was too busy killing all those terrorists that the U.S. allowed to leave from Raqqa, that is why Russian/Syrian aircraft hadn’t notice U.S. F-22 aircraft.

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Recent events in the skies over Deir Ezzor should lead the international community to reflect further on that issue. Russia is legally invited in a sovereign country and operates within the framework of the international law. On the contrary, the U.S. army stays in Syria with no decision by the U.S. Congress which only has the power to declare war and without any mandate from the UN.

&nbsp;

(Disclaimer: The author writes here in a personal capacity).

Russia is legally invited in a sovereign country and operates within the framework of the international law but the US army stays in Syria without any mandate from the UN

According to the US Air Forces Central Command, Russian/Syrian aircraft crossed a de-confliction line into coalition airspace east of the Euphrates River 6-8 times a day in late November. “The greatest concern is that we could shoot down these aircraft because of their actions are seen as a threat” to coalition forces, the source claimed recently together with CNN. In turn, Assad’s allies announced that most of the rapprochement between Russian/Syrian and U.S.-led coalition aircraft in the vicinity of the Euphrates River valley in Syria was associated with the attempts of the U.S. aircraft to interfere with the destruction of ISIS terrorists. It needs to be mentioned is that while the Syrian AF accompanied by the Russian side were eliminating ISIS stronghold in the suburbs of the city of al-Mayadin during the Deir-Ezzor campaign, U.S. F-22 aircraft was carrying out ‘flare ejection altitude’ (were releasing several decoy flares) and speed brake deployment maneuvering in airspace and simulating an air fight. The Pentagon had considered that there would be no point in following the international law regarding Syria’s airspace because the U.S. would be unable to benefit by its jets. × It seems a fight in the skies of Deir Ezzor is here to stay and the Memorandum on Flight Safety in Syria won’t help to pacify U.S. naked ambitions and ruthless determination to dominate in the skies over Syria. In the meantime, the legal basis for ‘coalition’ presence in Syria can’t be demonstrated. According to the international law, there is no U.S.-led coalition’s airspace in Syria. Apparently, the Pentagon had considered that there would be no point in following the international law regarding Syria’s airspace because the U.S. would be unable to benefit by its jets. CNN statements have already raised a storm of indignation of common Syrians. Many of them try to ask what are these “coalition forces” really doing in Syria and call them “USA invasion forces.” Some people draw parallels between the U.S. and Israeli AF planes, protesting against their missiles regularly infringing sovereign Syrian airspace. Syrians are concerned that there is no reason and excuse justifying this violation. A number of residents, according to the opinion poll made by Inside Syria Media Center via social media, even joked ‘Russia was too busy killing all those terrorists that the U.S. allowed to leave from Raqqa, that is why Russian/Syrian aircraft hadn’t notice U.S. F-22 aircraft. Russia is legally invited in a sovereign country and operates within the framework of the international law. × Recent events in the skies over Deir Ezzor should lead the international community to reflect further on that issue. Russia is legally invited in a sovereign country and operates within the framework of the international law. On the contrary, the U.S. army stays in Syria with no decision by the U.S. Congress which only has the power to declare war and without any mandate from the UN. (Disclaimer: The author writes here in a personal capacity).

Opinion: US and Russia fight in the skies of Deir-Ezzor is wrong

A video&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/QalaatAlMudiq/status/960125679294713857">showing</a>&nbsp;Nour al-Din al-Zenki militants hijacking a tanker and a truck with smuggled arms and weapons for YPG militia in Afrin emerged on Twitter on February 4, 2018.

A large number of Soviet-made ATGMs, and Fagot, Metis-M, Konkurs anti-tank missile systems were shown in the video.

According to&nbsp;Inside Syria Media Center&nbsp;sources, behind these weapons supply can be major German military companies, which a number of times have smuggled weapons to Syria from Eastern Europe since the beginning of the crisis. Despite the lack of import authorization several private German arms companies secretly purchased Soviet weapons in Bulgaria, Macedonia, Romania, Georgia, and Ukraine by hundreds of millions of dollars, for further transportation to the Kurdish units both in Iraq and Syria.

It’s worth noting that following the collapse of the Soviet Union, a huge amount of Soviet-made weapons was left at military warehouses of the Warsaw Treaty Organization counties and former Soviet Republics. Instead of recycling such weapons, Eastern European countries decided to make business on selling it to Germany.

As early as in 2014,&nbsp;Spiegel&nbsp;wrote about a deal between Germany and Ukraine on the purchase of Soviet-made weapons for further dissemination in Syria. For its part, American based Jamestown Foundation center claimed that these weapons had been supplied to Syrian militants for&nbsp;conducting&nbsp;secret operations.

It also becomes clear that Berlin has been providing Iraqi Kurds with weapons and ammunition for a long time. Germany delivered almost 28,000 items of small arms, ammunition, and grenade launchers to Peshmerga fighters from 2014 to 2016. Experts suppose that some part of the weapons was meant for the Syrian Kurds.

The German military instructors&nbsp;trained&nbsp;not only the Iraqi Peshmerga fighters but also the YPG militia in Syria. All this explains the existence of Kalashnikov rifles, machine guns, grenade launchers and 82 and 120 mm mortar rounds in the hands of the Syrian Kurds. Possession of these weapons allows them successfully repulse the attacks of the Turkish army.

Notably, since the beginning of the operation Olive Branch in Syria’s Afrin, Germany&nbsp;halted&nbsp;all arms exports to Turkey. It’s probably due to the pressure of the numerous Kurdish communities in Europe.

Moreover, according to&nbsp;Deutsche Welle, in total, since November 2016 till March 2017, the German government blocked 11 deals on the sale of small arms and ammunition to Turkey. German politicians say that despite the joint membership in NATO, Germany has put into effect a ban on the export of weapons to Turkey solely for political reasons. They also believe that weapons can be used not only for suppressing various uprisings inside Turkey, but also for combating Kurds in Syria.

There is no doubt that Germany actually stands behind for the recent Soviet weapons supply to Kurds. In the confrontation between the Turkish army and Syrian Kurds Germany has chosen the latter side.

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL).

&nbsp;

In the confrontation between the Turkish army and Syrian Kurds Germany has chosen the latter side.

A video showing Nour al-Din al-Zenki militants hijacking a tanker and a truck with smuggled arms and weapons for YPG militia in Afrin emerged on Twitter on February 4, 2018. A large number of Soviet-made ATGMs, and Fagot, Metis-M, Konkurs anti-tank missile systems were shown in the video. According to Inside Syria Media Center sources, behind these weapons supply can be major German military companies, which a number of times have smuggled weapons to Syria from Eastern Europe since the beginning of the crisis. Despite the lack of import authorization several private German arms companies secretly purchased Soviet weapons in Bulgaria, Macedonia, Romania, Georgia, and Ukraine by hundreds of millions of dollars, for further transportation to the Kurdish units both in Iraq and Syria. It’s worth noting that following the collapse of the Soviet Union, a huge amount of Soviet-made weapons was left at military warehouses of the Warsaw Treaty Organization counties and former Soviet Republics. Instead of recycling such weapons, Eastern European countries decided to make business on selling it to Germany. As early as in 2014, Spiegel wrote about a deal between Germany and Ukraine on the purchase of Soviet-made weapons for further dissemination in Syria. For its part, American based Jamestown Foundation center claimed that these weapons had been supplied to Syrian militants for conducting secret operations. It also becomes clear that Berlin has been providing Iraqi Kurds with weapons and ammunition for a long time. Germany delivered almost 28,000 items of small arms, ammunition, and grenade launchers to Peshmerga fighters from 2014 to 2016. Experts suppose that some part of the weapons was meant for the Syrian Kurds. The German military instructors trained not only the Iraqi Peshmerga fighters but also the YPG militia in Syria. All this explains the existence of Kalashnikov rifles, machine guns, grenade launchers and 82 and 120 mm mortar rounds in the hands of the Syrian Kurds. Possession of these weapons allows them successfully repulse the attacks of the Turkish army. Notably, since the beginning of the operation Olive Branch in Syria’s Afrin, Germany halted all arms exports to Turkey. It’s probably due to the pressure of the numerous Kurdish communities in Europe. Moreover, according to Deutsche Welle, in total, since November 2016 till March 2017, the German government blocked 11 deals on the sale of small arms and ammunition to Turkey. German politicians say that despite the joint membership in NATO, Germany has put into effect a ban on the export of weapons to Turkey solely for political reasons. They also believe that weapons can be used not only for suppressing various uprisings inside Turkey, but also for combating Kurds in Syria. There is no doubt that Germany actually stands behind for the recent Soviet weapons supply to Kurds. In the confrontation between the Turkish army and Syrian Kurds Germany has chosen the latter side. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL).

Opinion: Where did Syrian Kurds get Soviet Arms from?

Currently, the situation around Eastern Ghouta can only be described as drastic. Jaysh Al-Islam along with Faylaq al Rahman militants are blocking civilian evacuations via humanitarian corridors, preventing the delivery of humanitarian aid, and evacuating the wounded.

The humanitarian pause came into effect at 9 a.m. on Thursday upon the initiative of the Syrian Government and Russia. In the area of Vafidin, the government forces have already created block posts, and the medical staff is ready to provide the necessary medical care for the sick and injured. Moreover, special buses will evacuate civilians to safe areas.

Despite the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2401, demanding an immediate end to the fighting and the establishment of a humanitarian truce lasting at least 30 days, the militants of Eastern Ghouta violated ceasefire and have shelled civilians who tried to flee the area from mortars. And in that way, radicals undermine the efforts of the Syrian authorities and hinder the evacuation of the population. At the same time, the Syrian army units fully respect the truce and do not respond to provocations.

A number of Western media have already blamed the Syrian government for ceasefire violations, as well as for potential use of chemical weapons against innocent civilians.

According to the Syrian political observer Abdullah al-Ahmed, such kinds of reports are exclusively aimed at discrediting the legitimate government and the Syrian government forces.

Abdel Bari Atwan, a Middle East expert, holds the similar position. He believes that some Western media in the near future will try to deflect everyone’s attention from the initiatives of Bashar Assad in the form of humanitarian corridors and civilian evacuation from the besieged Eastern Ghouta. In addition, the media could once again say that the Syrian Army used chemical weapons in order to justify attacks.

Through these actions, the West tries to create a false perception of what’s happening in Eastern Ghouta, as it did during the liberation of Aleppo in 2016. The Syrian army doesn’t fight against Syrians. Only with the support of Russia, all the necessary conditions for the improvement of the humanitarian situation, and rescuing civilians, who are forcibly retained by extremists.

&nbsp;

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

The situation around Eastern Ghouta can only be described as drastic. This does not mean that Syrian army using chemical weapons against its own innocent civilians.

Currently, the situation around Eastern Ghouta can only be described as drastic. Jaysh Al-Islam along with Faylaq al Rahman militants are blocking civilian evacuations via humanitarian corridors, preventing the delivery of humanitarian aid, and evacuating the wounded. The humanitarian pause came into effect at 9 a.m. on Thursday upon the initiative of the Syrian Government and Russia. In the area of Vafidin, the government forces have already created block posts, and the medical staff is ready to provide the necessary medical care for the sick and injured. Moreover, special buses will evacuate civilians to safe areas. Despite the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2401, demanding an immediate end to the fighting and the establishment of a humanitarian truce lasting at least 30 days, the militants of Eastern Ghouta violated ceasefire and have shelled civilians who tried to flee the area from mortars. And in that way, radicals undermine the efforts of the Syrian authorities and hinder the evacuation of the population. At the same time, the Syrian army units fully respect the truce and do not respond to provocations. A number of Western media have already blamed the Syrian government for ceasefire violations, as well as for potential use of chemical weapons against innocent civilians. According to the Syrian political observer Abdullah al-Ahmed, such kinds of reports are exclusively aimed at discrediting the legitimate government and the Syrian government forces. Abdel Bari Atwan, a Middle East expert, holds the similar position. He believes that some Western media in the near future will try to deflect everyone’s attention from the initiatives of Bashar Assad in the form of humanitarian corridors and civilian evacuation from the besieged Eastern Ghouta. In addition, the media could once again say that the Syrian Army used chemical weapons in order to justify attacks. Through these actions, the West tries to create a false perception of what’s happening in Eastern Ghouta, as it did during the liberation of Aleppo in 2016. The Syrian army doesn’t fight against Syrians. Only with the support of Russia, all the necessary conditions for the improvement of the humanitarian situation, and rescuing civilians, who are forcibly retained by extremists. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Opinion: Why media is wrong about Syrian forces' use of chemical weapons

The death of the Islamic State chief is being cast as a milestone in the 'War on Terror'. But the devil remains in the details. This time, ISIS has spread all over the region with its fragmented leadership. Ghadi Francis tells you why ISIS is far from being vanquished.

The West Asia Post: Death of ISIS chief raises questions

Israel's military said it conducted strikes after missiles were fired from Syria on Wednesday.&nbsp;

"In response to the anti-aircraft missile launched from Syria earlier tonight, we just struck surface-to-air missile targets in Syria, including radar &amp; anti-aircraft batteries," Israel's military said.

Syria activated its air defences around Damascus as Isreal launched attacks early on Wednesday. There were reports of rocket warning sirens in northern Israel as the Israeli Defence Force (IDF) carried out strikes against Syria.

Syria's SANA news agency claimed it had shot down some missiles, however, it hasn't been confirmed. Reports said at least one soldier was killed and five others wounded.

Syrian state TV said the missiles were fired from Golan Heights and Israel also carried out airstrikes.

Israel has carried out hundreds of strikes against targets in Syria against what it calls Iran-backed forces and Hezbollah fighters.

(With inputs from Agencies) 
&nbsp;

Israel's military said it conducted strikes after missiles were fired from Syria on Wednesday. "In response to the anti-aircraft missile launched from Syria earlier tonight, we just struck surface-to-air missile targets in Syria, including radar & anti-aircraft batteries," Israel's military said.

Israel's military said it conducted strikes after missiles were fired from Syria on Wednesday. "In response to the anti-aircraft missile launched from Syria earlier tonight, we just struck surface-to-air missile targets in Syria, including radar & anti-aircraft batteries," Israel's military said. Syria activated its air defences around Damascus as Isreal launched attacks early on Wednesday. There were reports of rocket warning sirens in northern Israel as the Israeli Defence Force (IDF) carried out strikes against Syria. Syria's SANA news agency claimed it had shot down some missiles, however, it hasn't been confirmed. Reports said at least one soldier was killed and five others wounded. Syrian state TV said the missiles were fired from Golan Heights and Israel also carried out airstrikes. Israel has carried out hundreds of strikes against targets in Syria against what it calls Iran-backed forces and Hezbollah fighters. (With inputs from Agencies)

Israel launches strikes against Syria after missile attack

Two children have died in Syria's refugee camps including a seven-day-old baby. Freezing cold weather over the past two weeks has swept across Idlib home to some two million displaced Syrians in freezing cold temperatures.

Two children dies in Syria's refugee camp

US President Joe Biden said that US forces had eliminated Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurayshi, a leader of ISIS in a raid in Syria. The raid was carried out under his direction, Biden said in a statement. He said that all Americans returned safely from the operation.

"Last night at my direction, U.S. military forces in the northwest Syria successfully undertook a counterterrorism operation to protect the American people and our Allies, and make the world a safer place. Thanks to the skill and bravery of our Armed Forces, we have taken off the battlefield Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurayshi—the leader of ISIS. All Americans have returned safely from the operation. I will deliver remarks to the American people later this morning. May God protect our troops," Biden said in the statement.

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Reports of the operation were doing rounds in media before the official statement from the president. It was initially thought that an Al Qaeda terrorist was the target.&nbsp;It has been reported that At least 13 people, including six children and four women were killed in the clashes. &nbsp;The raid targetted a house in the Atmeh area near the Turkish border.

After the initial reports, Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby had confirmed that such a raid had taken place. Biden's statement was released after this.&nbsp;

"US Special Operations forces under the control of US&nbsp;Central Command conducted a counter-terrorism mission this evening in northwest Syria. The mission was successful," Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby said in the statement earlier.

A US official said that "at the beginning of the operation the terrorist target exploded a bomb that killed him and members of his own family, including women and children."

&nbsp;“We all remember the gut wrenching stories, mass slaughters that wiped out entire villages, thousands of women and young girls sold into slavery, rape used a weapon of war,” and that “this horrible terrorist leader is no more,” Biden said.

(With inputs from agencies)

US President Joe Biden said that US forces had eliminated Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurayshi, a leader of ISIS in a raid in Syria. The raid was carried out under his direction, Biden said in a statement.

US President Joe Biden said that US forces had eliminated Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurayshi, a leader of ISIS in a raid in Syria. The raid was carried out under his direction, Biden said in a statement. He said that all Americans returned safely from the operation. "Last night at my direction, U.S. military forces in the northwest Syria successfully undertook a counterterrorism operation to protect the American people and our Allies, and make the world a safer place. Thanks to the skill and bravery of our Armed Forces, we have taken off the battlefield Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurayshi—the leader of ISIS. All Americans have returned safely from the operation. I will deliver remarks to the American people later this morning. May God protect our troops," Biden said in the statement. × Reports of the operation were doing rounds in media before the official statement from the president. It was initially thought that an Al Qaeda terrorist was the target. It has been reported that At least 13 people, including six children and four women were killed in the clashes. The raid targetted a house in the Atmeh area near the Turkish border. After the initial reports, Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby had confirmed that such a raid had taken place. Biden's statement was released after this. "US Special Operations forces under the control of US Central Command conducted a counter-terrorism mission this evening in northwest Syria. The mission was successful," Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby said in the statement earlier. A US official said that "at the beginning of the operation the terrorist target exploded a bomb that killed him and members of his own family, including women and children." “We all remember the gut wrenching stories, mass slaughters that wiped out entire villages, thousands of women and young girls sold into slavery, rape used a weapon of war,” and that “this horrible terrorist leader is no more,” Biden said. (With inputs from agencies)

ISIS leader Abu Ibrahim exploded a bomb that killed him: US official

ISIS leader Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurashi was taken out by the Americans during a raid in Northwestern Syria. Will the operation contain the Islamic State's resurgence in Syria? Molly Gambhir tells you.

Gravitas: ISIS leader killed in US operation in Syria

The leader of the Islamic State, Abu Ibrahim al-Hashemi al-Quraishi blew himself and his family members up during a US military raid in Syria.

US: Blast killed ISIS leader, members of his family

ISIS leader Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurayshi killed as US forces conduct raid in Syria in a counter-terrorism mission. Reports say the ISIS leader blew himself during the raid.

Top Islamic State leader killed in US special forces raid in Syria

US President Joe Biden says an elite US military force killed the leader of the Islamic State group, during an overnight raid in Syria’s northwestern Idlib province.

Current leader of ISIS killed in US raid in Syria, says Joe Biden

US special forces carried out a counter-terrorism mission in Syria on Thursday. The Pentagon said that the raid, carried out in northwest Syria was successful. Syrian sources were quoted by Reuters to say that the raid was aimed at an Al Queada-linked jihadist.

At least 13 people, including six children and four women were killed in the clashes, said Syrian rescue workers. The raid targetted a house in the Atmeh area near the Turkish border

"US&nbsp;Special Operations forces under the control of U.S. Central Command conducted a counter-terrorism mission this evening in northwest Syria. The mission was successful," Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby said in a statement.

"There were no U.S. casualties. More information will be provided as it becomes available."

He did not identify the target.

A number of jihadist groups with links to al Qaeda operate in northwestern Syria, the last major bastion of rebels fighting President Bashar al-Assad in the decade-long Syrian war. Leaders of the Islamic State group have also hidden out in the area.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/more-than-3000-personnel-face-getting-discharged-as-us-army-tightens-vaccine-mandate-rules-449993">More than 3000 personnel face getting discharged as US Army tightens vaccine mandate rules</a>

Several rebel sources said they were almost certain the target was a leading jihadist, but could not be sure who.

Residents said helicopters landed and heavy gunfire and explosions were heard during the raid that began around midnight. U.S. forces used loud speakers to warn women and children to leave the area, they said.

A video taken by a resident and seen by Reuters showed the bodies of two apparently lifeless children and a man in the rubble of a building at the location.

A witness who lives nearby said he saw several bodies at the scene. "There was blood everywhere," he told Reuters. He added that one of the U.S. helicopters appeared to suffer a mechanical failure and was blown up by the U.S. forces.

A rebel official who declined to be named said the jihadist who was the apparent target of the raid was with his family at the time.

Witnesses said the raid ended with aircraft, believed to be helicopters, leaving the site but unidentified reconnaissance planes were still hovering in the area.

(With inputs from agencies)

US special forces carried out a counter-terrorism mission in Syria on Thursday. The Pentagon said that the raid, carried out in northwest Syria was successful. Syrian sources were quoted by Reuters to say that the raid was aimed at an Al Queada-linked jihadist.

US special forces carried out a counter-terrorism mission in Syria on Thursday. The Pentagon said that the raid, carried out in northwest Syria was successful. Syrian sources were quoted by Reuters to say that the raid was aimed at an Al Queada-linked jihadist. At least 13 people, including six children and four women were killed in the clashes, said Syrian rescue workers. The raid targetted a house in the Atmeh area near the Turkish border "US Special Operations forces under the control of U.S. Central Command conducted a counter-terrorism mission this evening in northwest Syria. The mission was successful," Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby said in a statement. "There were no U.S. casualties. More information will be provided as it becomes available." He did not identify the target. A number of jihadist groups with links to al Qaeda operate in northwestern Syria, the last major bastion of rebels fighting President Bashar al-Assad in the decade-long Syrian war. Leaders of the Islamic State group have also hidden out in the area. Also Read | More than 3000 personnel face getting discharged as US Army tightens vaccine mandate rules Several rebel sources said they were almost certain the target was a leading jihadist, but could not be sure who. Residents said helicopters landed and heavy gunfire and explosions were heard during the raid that began around midnight. U.S. forces used loud speakers to warn women and children to leave the area, they said. A video taken by a resident and seen by Reuters showed the bodies of two apparently lifeless children and a man in the rubble of a building at the location. A witness who lives nearby said he saw several bodies at the scene. "There was blood everywhere," he told Reuters. He added that one of the U.S. helicopters appeared to suffer a mechanical failure and was blown up by the U.S. forces. A rebel official who declined to be named said the jihadist who was the apparent target of the raid was with his family at the time. Witnesses said the raid ended with aircraft, believed to be helicopters, leaving the site but unidentified reconnaissance planes were still hovering in the area. (With inputs from agencies)

US forces target Al-Qaeda jihadist in Syria raid, civillians killed in clashes

The US has conducted a midnight raid in Syria where locals have claimed that there are several civilian fatalities.

Locals report civilian fatalities as US forces conduct a midnight raid in Syria

Power-starved Lebanon signed an agreement to import electricity from Jordan via Syria to reduce chronic outages and heed international calls for reform. Ghadi Francis brings you this ground report from Beirut on The West Asia Post.

The West Asia Post: Lebanon to get electricity from Jordan

More than 300 people have been killed in Syria since the prison attack by the Islamic State. On 20th Jan 2022 terrorists affiliated with the Islamic State launched its biggest assault since 2019.

More than 300 people killed in Syria since prison attack

Clashes erupted between Kurdish forces and Islamic State fighters near a prison in Syria, said Syrian Observatory of Human Rights. The prison where the fighting broke out has dozens of jihadists holed up.

An IS assault on the sprawling Ghwayran prison complex near the northeastern Syrian city of Hasakeh on January 20 sparked days of heavy fighting that has left some 260 people dead, and a bulldozer on Saturday shovelled corpses onto a truck to take some for burial.

The US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) announced they had recaptured the prison on Wednesday, but that mop-up operations continued.

On Saturday, there were "clashes in the vicinity of the prison between the Syrian Democratic Forces and Kurdish security forces on the one hand, and members of IS who are hiding in the area," the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

The war monitor, which relies on a network of sources inside Syria, said that four IS fighters took a local official and three civilians hostage for hours, holding them in a residential building near the prison. 
Kurdish forces later freed the hostages and killed three IS fighters.

An AFP correspondent earlier reported that US troops and Kurdish-led forces surrounded the building and deployed snipers on nearby rooftops, reporting there was intermittent shooting.

The SDF said Wednesday some 3,500 IS members had surrendered, but that holdout IS fighters had barricaded themselves inside the prison facility.

(With inputs from agencies)

Clashes erupted between Kurdish forces and Islamic State fighters near a prison in Syria, said Syrian Observatory of Human Rights. The prison where the fighting broke out has dozens of jihadists holed up.

Clashes erupted between Kurdish forces and Islamic State fighters near a prison in Syria, said Syrian Observatory of Human Rights. The prison where the fighting broke out has dozens of jihadists holed up. An IS assault on the sprawling Ghwayran prison complex near the northeastern Syrian city of Hasakeh on January 20 sparked days of heavy fighting that has left some 260 people dead, and a bulldozer on Saturday shovelled corpses onto a truck to take some for burial. The US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) announced they had recaptured the prison on Wednesday, but that mop-up operations continued. On Saturday, there were "clashes in the vicinity of the prison between the Syrian Democratic Forces and Kurdish security forces on the one hand, and members of IS who are hiding in the area," the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. The war monitor, which relies on a network of sources inside Syria, said that four IS fighters took a local official and three civilians hostage for hours, holding them in a residential building near the prison. Kurdish forces later freed the hostages and killed three IS fighters. An AFP correspondent earlier reported that US troops and Kurdish-led forces surrounded the building and deployed snipers on nearby rooftops, reporting there was intermittent shooting. The SDF said Wednesday some 3,500 IS members had surrendered, but that holdout IS fighters had barricaded themselves inside the prison facility. (With inputs from agencies)

Kurdish forces fight IS near Syria prison, says monitor

A prison attack in Syria is the latest sign of ISIS resurgence in the region. ISIS has mounted a series of recent attacks in both Syria and Iraq, suggesting it is re-emerging as a serious threat three years after it was driven out. Ghadi Francis tells you about this resurgence in this week's episode of The West Asia Post.

The West Asia Post: Kurdish fighters recapture prison after a week

&nbsp;Forces from a Kurdish-led militia on rooftops traded fire with dozens of Islamic State fighters still holed up in an embattled prison in northeastern Syria on Thursday, despite claims by the U.S.-backed militia a day earlier that it had regained full control of the entire complex.

The prison, in the city of al-Hasaka, housed thousands of Islamic State former fighters. Their fellow militants attacked a week ago in an attempt to free them. An official with one of the Syrian-Kurdish paramilitary groups battling the Islamic State said 60 to 90 militants from the group were still fighting from inside the partly destroyed prison complex, most of them attackers who had stormed the prison but some of them prisoners who had joined forces with them.

The prison attack was the starkest evidence yet of a resurgence of Islamic State across parts of Syria and Iraq, three years after the group lost the last territorial foothold in its so-called caliphate across a vast stretch of both countries. The extremists have also mounted a series of attacks on military forces in neighbouring Iraq in recent months.

The prison fight drew the U.S. military into the fray in support of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, or SDF, providing airstrikes, intelligence and armoured vehicles to cordon off the prison. This was the broadest confrontation between U.S. forces and the Islamic State since the end of the caliphate.

The fighting was also raging in surrounding areas near the prison complex.

At a traffic circle a few hundred yards from the prison complex in the centre of al-Hasaka, a New York Times team took cover along with a group of local journalists and civilians caught in the middle as Kurdish-led forces traded fire with Islamic State gunmen who had opened fire from a street near the prison.

Explosions from rocket-propelled grenades fired by the Kurdish-led forces at the prison and the sound of truck-mounted anti-aircraft guns rang out.

The SDF said two Islamic State fighters were killed in the engagement near the traffic circle, but there were no reports of civilians harmed in that clash.

A bulldozer emerged from the ruins of a cultural centre next to the prison complex carrying the crumpled body of an Islamic State fighter before dumping it in the back of a pickup truck.

At another building behind the cultural centre, which had been hit by an airstrike, SDF fighters pulled out the remains of two other Islamic State fighters. A charred oil tanker on its side still burned across the street.

SDF forces said the tanker and three others that were burned beside it had been destroyed in a U.S. airstrike.

Siyamend Ali, the head of media for the People’s Protection Units, one of the Kurdish factions in the SDF, said more than 3,000 detainees had surrendered and most had been taken to a new detention facility built by the U.S.-led coalition that has fought the Islamic State in Syria.

He said some of the Islamic State militants still inside the prison were believed to be foreign fighters.

“The prison attack has activated sleeper cells in other places,” Ali said.

Forces from a Kurdish-led militia on rooftops traded fire with dozens of Islamic State fighters still holed up in an embattled prison in northeastern Syria on Thursday, despite claims by the U.

Forces from a Kurdish-led militia on rooftops traded fire with dozens of Islamic State fighters still holed up in an embattled prison in northeastern Syria on Thursday, despite claims by the U.S.-backed militia a day earlier that it had regained full control of the entire complex. The prison, in the city of al-Hasaka, housed thousands of Islamic State former fighters. Their fellow militants attacked a week ago in an attempt to free them. An official with one of the Syrian-Kurdish paramilitary groups battling the Islamic State said 60 to 90 militants from the group were still fighting from inside the partly destroyed prison complex, most of them attackers who had stormed the prison but some of them prisoners who had joined forces with them. The prison attack was the starkest evidence yet of a resurgence of Islamic State across parts of Syria and Iraq, three years after the group lost the last territorial foothold in its so-called caliphate across a vast stretch of both countries. The extremists have also mounted a series of attacks on military forces in neighbouring Iraq in recent months. The prison fight drew the U.S. military into the fray in support of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, or SDF, providing airstrikes, intelligence and armoured vehicles to cordon off the prison. This was the broadest confrontation between U.S. forces and the Islamic State since the end of the caliphate. The fighting was also raging in surrounding areas near the prison complex. At a traffic circle a few hundred yards from the prison complex in the centre of al-Hasaka, a New York Times team took cover along with a group of local journalists and civilians caught in the middle as Kurdish-led forces traded fire with Islamic State gunmen who had opened fire from a street near the prison. Explosions from rocket-propelled grenades fired by the Kurdish-led forces at the prison and the sound of truck-mounted anti-aircraft guns rang out. The SDF said two Islamic State fighters were killed in the engagement near the traffic circle, but there were no reports of civilians harmed in that clash. A bulldozer emerged from the ruins of a cultural centre next to the prison complex carrying the crumpled body of an Islamic State fighter before dumping it in the back of a pickup truck. At another building behind the cultural centre, which had been hit by an airstrike, SDF fighters pulled out the remains of two other Islamic State fighters. A charred oil tanker on its side still burned across the street. SDF forces said the tanker and three others that were burned beside it had been destroyed in a U.S. airstrike. Siyamend Ali, the head of media for the People’s Protection Units, one of the Kurdish factions in the SDF, said more than 3,000 detainees had surrendered and most had been taken to a new detention facility built by the U.S.-led coalition that has fought the Islamic State in Syria. He said some of the Islamic State militants still inside the prison were believed to be foreign fighters. “The prison attack has activated sleeper cells in other places,” Ali said.

US-backed forces in Syria are still fighting Islamic State at prison

In Syria, US-backed Kurdish forces advanced inside a detention facility that came under attack by Islamic State militants last week.

Syria prison standoff: 550 Jihadists turn themselves in as SDF gains control

An audacious attack on a Syrian prison that houses thousands of Islamic State detainees. A series of strikes against military forces in neighboring Iraq. The dissemination of a video showing the beheading of a kidnapped Iraqi police officer.

The evidence of a resurgence of Islamic State in Syria and Iraq is mounting by the day, three years after the militants lost their last territorial foothold in the so-called caliphate, which once stretched across vast parts of the two countries. The fact that the Islamic State group was able to mount multiple, coordinated and sophisticated attacks is evidence that what had been believed to be disparate sleeper cells are re-emerging as a more serious threat.

“It’s a wake-up call for regional players, for national players that ISIS is not over, that the fight is not over,” said Kawa Hassan, Middle East and North Africa director at the Stimson Center think tank. “It shows the resilience of ISIS to strike back at the time and place of their choosing.”

On Thursday, Islamic State fighters attacked a prison in the northeastern Syrian city of Hasaka in an attempt to free the 3,500 prisoners held there and took a group of detained boys hostage to use as human shields. The assault drew the U.S. military into fight in what has become the biggest confrontation between U.S. forces and the Islamic State in three years.

By Tuesday, the Islamic State attackers still controlled part of the prison in Hasaka, even after the United States sent in ground troops and air support for the Kurdish-led forces trying to take it back.

In Iraq last week, around the same time as the prison attack began, ISIS fighters stormed an army outpost in Diyala province, killing 10 soldiers and an officer in the deadliest attack in several years on an Iraqi military base. Gunmen approached the base from three sides late at night while some of the soldiers slept.

The success of the attack raised fears that some of the same conditions in Iraq that allowed for the rise of the Islamic State in 2014 were once again making room for it to reconstitute.

In December, the Islamic State kidnapped four Iraqi hunters in a mountainous area of northeast Iraq, including a police colonel. The militants beheaded the police officer, and then released a gruesome video of the kidnapping that was reminiscent of what was once a common practice during the reign of ISIS.

The attacks in Iraq, conducted by ISIS sleeper cells in remote mountain and desert areas, have highlighted a lack of coordination between Iraqi government forces and the Peshmerga, Kurdish forces that answer to the government of the Iraqi Kurdistan region. Many of the attacks take place in disputed territory claimed by both the Iraqi Kurdish government and the central government.

Ardian Shajkovci, director of the American Counterterrorism Targeting &amp;amp; Resilience Institute, said many of the ISIS fighters arrested in attacks since the group lost the last of its territory three years ago were younger and came from families with older members who had ties to the Islamic State.

“If so, this is a new generation of ISIS recruits, changing the calculus and threat landscape in many ways,” he said.

Iraq has struggled to deal with tens of thousands of Iraqi citizens who are relatives of ISIS fighters and have been collectively punished and placed in detention camps, which are now seen as breeding grounds for radicalization.

Corruption in Iraqi security forces has left some bases in the country without proper supplies and allowed soldiers and officers to neglect their duties, contributing to the collapse of entire army divisions which retreated in 2014 rather than face the Islamic State. 
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An audacious attack on a Syrian prison that houses thousands of Islamic State detainees. A series of strikes against military forces in neighboring Iraq. The dissemination of a video showing the beheading of a kidnapped Iraqi police officer.

An audacious attack on a Syrian prison that houses thousands of Islamic State detainees. A series of strikes against military forces in neighboring Iraq. The dissemination of a video showing the beheading of a kidnapped Iraqi police officer. The evidence of a resurgence of Islamic State in Syria and Iraq is mounting by the day, three years after the militants lost their last territorial foothold in the so-called caliphate, which once stretched across vast parts of the two countries. The fact that the Islamic State group was able to mount multiple, coordinated and sophisticated attacks is evidence that what had been believed to be disparate sleeper cells are re-emerging as a more serious threat. “It’s a wake-up call for regional players, for national players that ISIS is not over, that the fight is not over,” said Kawa Hassan, Middle East and North Africa director at the Stimson Center think tank. “It shows the resilience of ISIS to strike back at the time and place of their choosing.” On Thursday, Islamic State fighters attacked a prison in the northeastern Syrian city of Hasaka in an attempt to free the 3,500 prisoners held there and took a group of detained boys hostage to use as human shields. The assault drew the U.S. military into fight in what has become the biggest confrontation between U.S. forces and the Islamic State in three years. By Tuesday, the Islamic State attackers still controlled part of the prison in Hasaka, even after the United States sent in ground troops and air support for the Kurdish-led forces trying to take it back. In Iraq last week, around the same time as the prison attack began, ISIS fighters stormed an army outpost in Diyala province, killing 10 soldiers and an officer in the deadliest attack in several years on an Iraqi military base. Gunmen approached the base from three sides late at night while some of the soldiers slept. The success of the attack raised fears that some of the same conditions in Iraq that allowed for the rise of the Islamic State in 2014 were once again making room for it to reconstitute. In December, the Islamic State kidnapped four Iraqi hunters in a mountainous area of northeast Iraq, including a police colonel. The militants beheaded the police officer, and then released a gruesome video of the kidnapping that was reminiscent of what was once a common practice during the reign of ISIS. The attacks in Iraq, conducted by ISIS sleeper cells in remote mountain and desert areas, have highlighted a lack of coordination between Iraqi government forces and the Peshmerga, Kurdish forces that answer to the government of the Iraqi Kurdistan region. Many of the attacks take place in disputed territory claimed by both the Iraqi Kurdish government and the central government. Ardian Shajkovci, director of the American Counterterrorism Targeting &amp; Resilience Institute, said many of the ISIS fighters arrested in attacks since the group lost the last of its territory three years ago were younger and came from families with older members who had ties to the Islamic State. “If so, this is a new generation of ISIS recruits, changing the calculus and threat landscape in many ways,” he said. Iraq has struggled to deal with tens of thousands of Iraqi citizens who are relatives of ISIS fighters and have been collectively punished and placed in detention camps, which are now seen as breeding grounds for radicalization. Corruption in Iraqi security forces has left some bases in the country without proper supplies and allowed soldiers and officers to neglect their duties, contributing to the collapse of entire army divisions which retreated in 2014 rather than face the Islamic State.

Prison attack is latest evidence of ISIS resurgence

The Kurdish led forces have said that they've raided parts of a prison seized by the ISIS fighters in Northeastern Syria. According to reports, at least about 300 ISIS terrorists have surrendered on Monday.

Syria: Terrorists holed up with minors, UNICEF calls for evacuation of children

Syria has been witnessing fierce fighting between the so-called Islamic state fighters and the Kurdish forces; this after the ISIS attacked a prison that was holding several of these terrorists. According to reports, at least 135 people have been killed so far in the fighting this includes about 84 ISIS terrorists in about 45 Kurdish fighters and 7 innocent civilians.

Syria prison attack: Fighting continues between ISIS, Kurdish forces

Fighting raged for a third day Saturday between the Islamic State group and Kurdish forces in&nbsp;Syria&nbsp;after IS attacked a prison housing jihadists, in violence that has claimed over 70 lives, a monitor said.

The assault on the Ghwayran prison in the northern city of Hasakeh is one of IS's most significant since its "caliphate" was declared defeated in&nbsp;Syria&nbsp;nearly three years ago.

"At least 28 members of the Kurdish security forces, five civilians and 45 members of IS have been killed" in the violence, said Rami Abdel Rahman, head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

IS launched the attack on Thursday night against the prison housing some 3,500 suspected members of the jihadist group, including some of its leaders, said the Observatory.

Hundreds of jihadist inmates had since been detained and around 10 were believed to have escaped, said the Observatory, a Britain-based monitor that relies on sources inside war-torn&nbsp;Syria&nbsp;for its information.

"The exceptional situation continues in and around the prison," said Farhad Shami, spokesman for the Kurdish-dominated Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).

The fighting on Saturday morning was taking place north of the prison, he added.

The jihadist group said in a statement released by its Amaq news agency that its attack on the jail aimed to "free the prisoners".

IS has carried out regular attacks against Kurdish and government targets in&nbsp;Syria&nbsp;since the rump of its once-sprawling proto-state was overrun on the banks of the Euphrates in March 2019.

Most of their guerrilla attacks have been against military targets and oil installations in remote areas, but the Hasakeh prison break could mark a new phase in the group's resurgence.

The Kurdish authorities have long warned they do not have the capacity to hold, let alone put on trial, the thousands of IS fighters captured in years of operations.

According to Kurdish authorities, more than 50 nationalities are represented in a number of Kurdish-run prisons, where more than 12,000 IS suspects are now held.

The war in&nbsp;Syria&nbsp;broke out in 2011 and has since killed close to half a million people and spurred the largest conflict-induced displacement since World War II.

Fighting raged for a third day Saturday between the Islamic State group and Kurdish forces in Syria after IS attacked a prison housing jihadists, in violence that has claimed over 70 lives, a monitor said.

Fighting raged for a third day Saturday between the Islamic State group and Kurdish forces in Syria after IS attacked a prison housing jihadists, in violence that has claimed over 70 lives, a monitor said. The assault on the Ghwayran prison in the northern city of Hasakeh is one of IS's most significant since its "caliphate" was declared defeated in Syria nearly three years ago. "At least 28 members of the Kurdish security forces, five civilians and 45 members of IS have been killed" in the violence, said Rami Abdel Rahman, head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. IS launched the attack on Thursday night against the prison housing some 3,500 suspected members of the jihadist group, including some of its leaders, said the Observatory. Hundreds of jihadist inmates had since been detained and around 10 were believed to have escaped, said the Observatory, a Britain-based monitor that relies on sources inside war-torn Syria for its information. "The exceptional situation continues in and around the prison," said Farhad Shami, spokesman for the Kurdish-dominated Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). The fighting on Saturday morning was taking place north of the prison, he added. The jihadist group said in a statement released by its Amaq news agency that its attack on the jail aimed to "free the prisoners". IS has carried out regular attacks against Kurdish and government targets in Syria since the rump of its once-sprawling proto-state was overrun on the banks of the Euphrates in March 2019. Most of their guerrilla attacks have been against military targets and oil installations in remote areas, but the Hasakeh prison break could mark a new phase in the group's resurgence. The Kurdish authorities have long warned they do not have the capacity to hold, let alone put on trial, the thousands of IS fighters captured in years of operations. According to Kurdish authorities, more than 50 nationalities are represented in a number of Kurdish-run prisons, where more than 12,000 IS suspects are now held. The war in Syria broke out in 2011 and has since killed close to half a million people and spurred the largest conflict-induced displacement since World War II.

More than 70 dead in fighting after Syria jail attack

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